The general manager of the state-owned China
Railway Corporation (CRC), Sheng Guangxu, was quoted as saying
that the bulk of the 630 billion yuan ($104.11 billion)
investment would be in the underdeveloped central and western
regions.

It said CRC had already put 5,586 km of rail lines into
operation since its formation last March following the
dissolution of the Ministry of Railways.

China abolished the ministry in March and transferred its
regulatory duties to the Ministry of Transportation.

The sector was plagued with allegations of waste and corruption
that culminated in the sentencing of former minister Liu Zhijun
in July on charges of bribery and abuse of power.

CRC has already started construction on 49 new railway projects
involving 663.8 billion yuan of investment.

China had more than 100,000 km of railway in operation by the
end of 2013, 10 percent of which was for high speed trains,
Xinhua said.